Sheffield United vs Mansfield Town

FA Cup 3rd Round - Sunday 11th January 2026 - 14:30 - Bramall Lane
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Player Ratings:
Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/match-day/match/sheffield-united-vs-mansfield-town.797/

Officials:

Referee: Gavin Ward
Assistants: Hugh Gilroy & Nigel Lugg
Fourth Official: Isaac Searle

Coverage:

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[AnonBlade]

Maybe he was using this fixture to try & showcase what we need in January: GK, CB, DM & winger. However at 4-1 it was looking like we need(ed) a new manager.

 

[MartBlade]

never want to see McGuiness and Mee play together ever again. McGuiness is EXACTLY what I thought he was every time we played against him - slow, clumsy and the defender every striker wants to play on.

Ings is done too, get rid.

Got to agree completely - lack of pace and sharpness kills you against any opposition.

 

[bartman]

I knew it won't easy when I saw McGuinness and Mee starting. Having one of those two oil tankers in defence makes it difficult enough, but both of them at the same time is just asking for trouble.

Don't worry. They aren't to blame according Mr Wilder. CW: "I thought the substitutes, the impact from Femi and Brooksy was poor and not at the level I expect"

 

[Blademan89]

Don't worry. They aren't to blame according Mr Wilder. CW: "I thought the substitutes, the impact from Femi and Brooksy was poor and not at the level I expect"

Yeah wouldnt call out all other shits ones will he, why doesnt he call out Chong, Campbell, ings, mee, McGuinness or davies ? All who was pathetic and should be ashamed of theor performances.

No just pick in easy targets as usual, and most definitely wouldnt shoulder any blame himself would he, as he ever admitted he get it wrong in any games hes been in charge with us?

 

[ATL Recs]

Yeah wouldnt call out all other shits ones will he, why doesnt he call out Chong, Campbell, ings, mee, McGuinness or davies ? All who was pathetic and should be ashamed of theor performances.

No just pick in easy targets as usual, and most definitely wouldnt shoulder any blame himself would he, as he ever admitted he get it wrong in any games hes been in charge with us?

Or Arblaster whose passing and impact on the game was woefully off

 

[fifty shades of blade]

Don't worry. They aren't to blame according Mr Wilder. CW: "I thought the substitutes, the impact from Femi and Brooksy was poor and not at the level I expect"

Christ, thats hoever and chong starting next game. Bloke is mental.

 

[Blademan89]

Or Arblaster whose passing and impact on the game was woefully off

Yes he was sub par, and Soumare passing was terrible at times also.

 

[ATL Recs]

Losing to essentially a part time football club.
Many of us probably have seen us play them maybe once.
Local rivalry too. I know for a fact that Mansfield fans, this is a very big deal for them. It's almost unknown to us United fans and wouldn't have been a big deal if we had won.

The empty Kop looks absolutely shit empty by the way Sheffield United. It should be the first stand that is open in any cup game. Asking a lot for John Street and South Stand to generate an atmosphere without the Kop.
It sure is a good incentive for a former Blades youngster to stick 2 bangers in at that end, no pressure at all.

It just says "We are not bothered". Unless we just happen to accidentally stumble into the latter rounds that is.

Bit disrespectful to a club who have the worlds oldest professional football stadium and a club who have had some decent teams of their own at our level ( div2 = championship) in their history

 

[MartBlade]

I’m a huge fan of Wilder but today’s debacle is his responsibility. That starting back 5 was asking for trouble and it was unfair to chuck Hoever into a completely changed back line. The midfield was an untried combination and only Soumare really looked up for it before inexplicably being subbed ahead of Arblaster. The front line was dreadful… Ings looks past it and Campbell just seems lo let games pass him by.
I’ve no issue losing to a lower division team if they play above themselves… cup shocks happen. Unfortunately this was just a complete gift… our defending was shambolic and we seemed to think walking football was all we needed to do to win. The lack of urgency throughout the entire 96 minutes suggested that our desire was seriously lacking. This kind of performance is unforgivable in front of our most loyal fans … ie the ones who will show up regardless of who we’re playing.
Looks like a Mansfield shirt needs to go up in our changing room but I think on this occasion it maybe needs to go in Wilders office. I’ll remain a huge fan of his if he takes responsibility for this enormous let down.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

A key difference between the teams today was that Mansfield were exceptionally good at preventing us moving the ball forward and we were exceptionally bad at preventing them moving the ball forwards.

The bottom line is that we shouldn't be conceeding this many goals at home to a League 1 side.

 

[54yrblade]

I’m a huge fan of Wilder but today’s debacle is his responsibility. That starting back 5 was asking for trouble and it was unfair to chuck Hoever into a completely changed back line. The midfield was an untried combination and only Soumare really looked up for it before inexplicably being subbed ahead of Arblaster. The front line was dreadful… Ings looks past it and Campbell just seems lo let games pass him by.
I’ve no issue losing to a lower division team if they play above themselves… cup shocks happen. Unfortunately this was just a complete gift… our defending was shambolic and we seemed to think walking football was all we needed to do to win. The lack of urgency throughout the entire 96 minutes suggested that our desire was seriously lacking. This kind of performance is unforgivable in front of our most loyal fans … ie the ones who will show up regardless of who we’re playing.
Looks like a Mansfield shirt needs to go up in our changing room but I think on this occasion it maybe needs to go in Wilders office. I’ll remain a huge fan of his if he takes responsibility for this enormous let down.

He will never take responsibility
He's incapable of it. Femi and Brookesy don't deserve getting named/ blamed in his presser

Sh*t man management. The best managers sort that behind closed doors but he needs a deflection option

 

[Nick Jansky]

Wilder was tactically schooled by a very good tactician. For the first of Reed’s goals we had every single player packed around our 6 yard box which absolutely wasn’t needed. And guess what, rather than learn from it we continued to do it with predictable results, which was very poor.

 

[Bladesman101]

how many cup upsets need to happen before people start to realise it’s not straight forward. Crystal Palace lost to Macclesfield yesterday!

It’s 11 blokes v 11 blokes. They looked like they were concentrating insanely hard, every pass felt like it meant something to them. You can’t expect the same way of playing from our players today, no matter how many ways you try and say it’s disgraceful, it’s the reality of football and humans and why football shocks happen every single time there’s an FA Cup weekend.

 

[andy m]

Wilder was tactically schooled by a very good tactician. For the first of Reed’s goals we had every single player packed around our 6 yard box which absolutely wasn’t needed. And guess what, rather than learn from it we continued to do it with predictable results, which was very poor.

In Wilders interview he mentioned that the player who is responsible for closing down the ball outside the box got blocked off on both goals. Didn't say who it was but sounded pissed off with him.

 

[FredZeppelin]

I've said it many times before and I'll say it again. You cannot win a game of football with Adam Fucking Davies in the goal. He isn't fucking interested and the most average of shots will beat him every time. He's an apology of a professional footballer and Wilder is negligent for not replacing him. He's stolen a living from the game and needs to be kicked out immediately.

He'll keep us up this season but this club will never progress under Wilder and his attitude towards the cup is disgusting.

utb

 

[Foxy]

In Wilders interview he mentioned that the player who is responsible for closing down the ball outside the box got blocked off on both goals.

I don't think there was a single block off in the entire box for the first, not seen any replays though.

 

[andy m]

I don't think there was a single block off in the entire box for the first, not seen any replays though.

Didn't see one either but he mentioned it.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I don't think there was a single block off in the entire box for the first, not seen any replays though.

I don’t understand why we felt we needed to have 11 players crowded into the box in the first place.

 

[Foxy]

Didn't see one either but he mentioned it.

I can't remember too much on the second either to be honest , I know we had a player on the floor, but don't recall anyone being hindered by an opponent, thought it was more just a quick first time effort which ended up being deflected in.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

how many cup upsets need to happen before people start to realise it’s not straight forward. Crystal Palace lost to Macclesfield yesterday!

It’s 11 blokes v 11 blokes. They looked like they were concentrating insanely hard, every pass felt like it meant something to them. You can’t expect the same way of playing from our players today, no matter how many ways you try and say it’s disgraceful, it’s the reality of football and humans and why football shocks happen every single time there’s an FA Cup weekend.

Nonsense.

If the prize for the winner today had been 3 league points instead of a place in the Fourth Round, we'd have won with ease.

Wilder is fixated on the league, always has been.

 

[Bladesman101]

Nonsense.

If the prize for the winner today had been 3 league points instead of a place in the Fourth Round, we'd have won with ease.

Wilder is fixated on the league, always has been.

But it wasn’t a league game, so that’s a nonsense comment in its self. If I had wheels I’d be a bike etc.

 

[ml1997]

Tbh I don’t see how you could conclude that was Wilder’s fault. The team couldn’t have looked less arsed until we were 4-1 down.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

But it wasn’t a league game, so that’s a nonsense comment in its self. If I had wheels I’d be a bike etc.

That's the point.

We've not been great this season by any stretch but we've got more than enough to beat a bang average League One Mansfield team.

It was nothing to do with them just playing better than us on the day, it comes from Wilder every single time.

I'm not saying he explicitly tells our players to lose on purpose but I genuinely believe he does everything within his power to not win these cup games.

We've seen it too many times now.

 

[Jan Age]

To be fair to him he slagged the starting 11 and he slagged the subs bar Bamford and I have to agree with him … Femi never once beat his player .. Brooks just wondered all over Tom Davies … let’s not even start …

Ings - legs have gone he’s a busted flush and he knows it

Mcguiness - was pulled all over the place and Mee covered ALOT for him.

Blaster - it’s a long way back maybe too long

Campbell - attitude

Burrows - inconsistent

Hamer - looked like he was trying not to get injured ..

Soumare - Brilliant and terrible in equal measure.

Chong - a truly truly awful footballer and professional

At least half the squad need to be gone

 

[vas borbokis]

Yeah wouldnt call out all other shits ones will he, why doesnt he call out Chong, Campbell, ings, mee, McGuinness or davies ? All who was pathetic and should be ashamed of theor performances.

No just pick in easy targets as usual, and most definitely wouldnt shoulder any blame himself would he, as he ever admitted he get it wrong in any games hes been in charge with us?

He needs to keep Seriki and Brooks on their toes because they'll be in the team going forwards. The others he needs to not have them down tools as they'll be off as soon as he can get them away from us..
Edit..
He is "managing" these players to get the best out of them if/when deployed.

 

[54yrblade]

Seriki and Brookes would do well to look elsewhere. Chucking kids under the bus whilst others get different treatment isn't the sign of good management

 

[ChefYouKnighted1889]

Just take the blame chris for once

 

[pollster]

So disappointing
It was still there to win at 4-3 with the own goal.
The only good news is that Ben Mee who is key despite his age as a LCB looked to be badly injured but only had a knock in the face.
This is far far worse than the 2-1 defeat at Mansfield of the fourth with Woodward Currie and Salmons etc as it is solely caused by an imbecile manager who is failing in his fourth season in a row and still getting away with it.
F off Wilder.
On the bright side we could be not last on MOTD but I doubt it's c;lassed as a big shock with the disasters under Wilder and COH.

At the end of last season probably when United where still top United went to Stoke City and won (as this year) BUT
The expert summariser - unknown to me but not the Crainey/Cransom from Stoke who had done the job the home game earlier when they beat Wendy -
spent the entire game pointing out how United left the D of the penalty box unprotected and wide open if the ball would fall.
Just saving the radio commentary for today (AND STILL AVAILABLE) from Radio Nottingham and working out the end of the stream they had been pointing out the same flaw.
Hence Louis Reeds two UNCHALLENGED strikes.
Wilder does NOT KNOW the fundamentals of football.
Wilder does NOT LEARN.
Wilder is an imbecile.
Wilder has been the worst disaster in SUFC history and will continue to be.
F off Wilder.

 

[SB_90]

i was at work so only saw the scoreline & andy giddings post match & chris wilder

so sounds like the basketball match nature of wrexham happened again & like derby you cant conceded so quickly either side of half time & expect to get much out of the game

i saw a stat that Mansfield had 9 touches in our box & scored 4 times. nigel clough & ironically evergreen Louis reed comeback to bite us. but we as we always said in 2014. if only cup nigel turned up in the league

I dont see how this can be Wilder’s fault. on that pitch today was 14 players that you would fully expect to be in our 1st team. so how strong the team was isnt the issue.

 

[TJ blade]

Ings career is over. Excellent one at that, but unfortunately legs have gone.

And so say all of us!